Tahu in his own race row

Parramatta Eels star Timana Tahu has been accused of racially abusing a teenage boy, just months after walking away from a State of Origin training camp over the same issue.

A group of players from the Northern United rugby league club have accused the Eels centre of racially vilifying 16-year-old Aboriginal boy Caleb Binge at a Koori knockout league tournament at Woy Woy on the New South Wales central coast last weekend.

Tahu denies the allegation but Northern United insists the incident occurred and are demanding an apology.

Caleb's father and coach Chris Binge said while his players were prepared for the tough physical nature of the game against Tahu's Newcastle Yowies, they were shocked by some of the language allegedly used, particularly by the Australian and New South Wales representative.

"One of the players came off and was in a little bit of shock to say 'he just called me a black c'," he said.

"Not a nice thing to say... so he was referred to in that way and other players around at that time had heard what had been said."

Tahu created headlines in June when he quit the Blues Origin camp, angry with assistant coach Andrew Johns for describing Queensland centre Greg Inglis in the same way.

Given the history, Binge said he was shocked to hear Tahu was allegedly using the same language.

"It left a pretty sour taste in people's mouths over the whole weekend and probably still somewhat does," he said.

He said it was no excuse that both players share an Indigenous background.

"I suppose it is what it is, it's racism, regardless of whether [you're] Aboriginal or not," he said.

"It's comment that I don't think should be in sport, full stop."

Binge said the incident had shaken the club.

"The major effect is that the people he said it to obviously looked up to Timana, particularly in regards to the stand that he took on his situation," he said.

"I supported that stand and I suppose these are young blokes that looked up to him and I think their faith and belief in him has now dwindled to the point where I suppose they don't want too much to do with him."

The Eels have engaged a lawyer and will talk to Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda about finding some form of resolution.

Binge said there was only one way to settle the matter.

"I think it's pretty simple. I think he just owes the kid he said it to an apology," he said.

"I mean, this isn't a legal battle in any way, shape or form. It's just put your hand up when you make a mistake and you apologise for that mistake and you're genuine about that and you move on.

"It's pretty simple I think."

New South Wales Rugby League chief Geoff Carr says while there are policies in place to deal with the situation, no complaint has been lodged.

"The policy either kicks in when there's been an official complaint, and there hasn't been one, or if there's not an official complaint then there's another avenue we can go," he said.

"So until we actually hear from Northern United or the Northern Rivers Rugby League we've got to be careful how we take our next steps, other than to say that we will ensure that we get to the bottom of it one way or another."